From the moment Lu Yinxi stepped into the Prime Minister's Mansion, she was prepared to meet the original owner's family. She just didn't expect it to be so sudden.
"Xi'er, it's you, isn't it?"
The book rolled to the ground as the scholar firmly grasped her shoulders. But she didn't feel offended. Instead, she felt a faint sense of nostalgia.
The person in front of her was Lu Yinjian, the eldest legitimate son of the Lu family and the original owner's older brother born of the same mother.
"Brother? Brother?"
The affectionate address slipped out of the girl's mouth naturally. Vague images seemed to flash before her eyes and then disappeared in an instant.
The scholar was stunned on the spot. He thought he was having an auditory hallucination.
"Are you... Big Brother?"
Not getting an answer for a long time, Lu Yinxi repeated her question cautiously. Only then did Lu Yinjian come to his senses.
"Xi'er, you... you can talk?"
The girl was amused by his reaction and subconsciously curved her lips. "Yes, I can talk now."
"It's good that you can talk. It's really good!"
A great wave of joy swept over Lu Yinjian. He was so excited that he didn't know where to put his hands and feet.
Lu Yinxi saw it and was infected by his emotions. The smile in her eyes became more genuine.
Rongjing Courtyard
The maids in brand - new clothes were scurrying around the outer room in a hurry, looking as if they were facing a great enemy.
In contrast, the inner room of the courtyard was extremely quiet.
Leaning her elbows on the table, Lady Wang, the second wife, was sipping tea slowly. There was a faint smile on her face. No one would have thought that she had just lost her temper and smashed a set of tea sets.
The eerie silence lasted for a long time. Finally, the middle - aged maid beside the lady began to speak carefully.
"Madam, now that the eldest young master has met the fourth young lady, it won't be long before the Prime Minister may know. What should we do?"
Bringing Lu Yinxi back to the mansion this time was not the Prime Minister's idea. It was Lady Wang who did it secretly behind his back.
The purpose was to let that mute girl know that just for punishing a few servants, she still dared to dream of fighting against her!
Just in case, she had also arranged people to guard around Luoxia Courtyard to prevent others from approaching easily. But she never expected that despite all her precautions, Lu Yinxi still managed to meet Lu Yinjian.
"After today, give those lazy servants thirty strokes each and sell them off. As for that little bitch..."
At this point, the lady's smile turned a bit cold.
"It's almost time. Send someone to help the fourth young lady dress up and then bring her to see me. Also, tell the eldest young master that today is the Prime Minister's birthday. He must not make him angry with his studies."
Immediately, someone took the order and left. But Lady Wang's instructions were not over yet. She paused for a moment and then continued. "Where is the Prime Minister?"
"Replying to Madam, the Prime Minister is currently meeting with His Highness, the King of Jing, in the study."
Lady Wang was stunned. She simply couldn't understand why the King of Jing would come to the mansion.
Although the Prime Minister was in a very high position, his birthday celebrations had always been very low - key. Usually, the family just had a meal together, and he had never invited guests.
For this birthday, he had even given orders that the second young lady, Lu Yinqian, who had married the heir of the Marquis of Yongchang, didn't need to come back.
Unable to figure out why the King of Jing had come, Lady Wang refocused her attention on Lu Yinxi.
"Find a few people to stop the eldest young master. Make sure he doesn't see the master before the birthday banquet starts."
Most importantly, the Prime Minister must never know that Lu Yinxi had returned.
The servants acted quickly. Before the Lu Yinxi siblings could say much to each other, someone came from outside and called Lu Yinjian away.
Then, Nanny Sun led a group of maids into the courtyard, carrying all kinds of hairpins and clothes.
"Greetings to the fourth young lady."
Although some time had passed, those murderous eyes often appeared in Nanny Sun's dreams. So when she saw Lu Yinxi again after many days, she still didn't dare to act rashly.
"Nanny Sun, we meet again."
The girl raised her eyebrows in surprise. She didn't expect to see an acquaintance in the mansion so soon.
Nanny Sun forced a smile on her face guiltily and didn't dare to answer. She could only instruct the maids to put down the things and serve Lu Yinxi to dress up.
The girl watched their actions with an inscrutable look on her face.
Previously, Lu Yinjian had told her that today was the Prime Minister's birthday.
Bringing her back at this time, Lu Yinxi didn't think it was just a simple birthday celebration. She just didn't know if it was the Prime Minister's idea or that of the second wife.
Sitting in front of the dressing table, allowing the maid to do her hair, the girl's mind was full of thoughts, which finally calmed down completely.
She had survived so many life - and - death moments in her previous life. How could she be afraid of these now?
The Study
The middle - aged man held the painting scroll in one hand and stroked his goatee with the other. Although his face was calm, his eyes were faintly shining. His gaze was completely fixed on the painting in his hand. It was only after a long while that he reluctantly shifted his attention.
"My Lord, judging from the painting style, this is undoubtedly a work of the great painter Lin from the previous dynasty."
Shang Luoshu knew very well whether the painting was a genuine one. Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought it here.
"Sure enough, you deserve to be the Prime Minister. Your attainments in calligraphy and painting are truly the best in the world. It seems that I made the right choice to present this as a birthday gift.
I just wonder if I can have lunch at the Prime Minister's mansion?"
The Prime Minister was stunned at first and then understood what Shang Luoshu meant.
"It's truly an honor for this official that Your Highness is willing to grace us!"
Looking at herself in the mirror, Lu Yinxi hardly recognized herself for a moment.
On her gentle drooping double - looped hair buns, there were two or three hairpins and a few small velvet flowers, which softened the sharpness of her eyes.
She was wearing a sky - blue silk dress embroidered with butterfly patterns. A jade - inlaid gold pendant was hanging from her ruyi waistband. She truly looked like a gentle and elegant young lady from a noble family.
As the saying goes, "Fine feathers make fine birds." Even though the girl had never been very concerned about her appearance, she had to admit that she looked beautiful in the mirror at this moment.
A woman dresses up for the one who appreciates her. The ancients were really right!
But thinking that she would soon face off against the second wife, the joy Lu Yinxi had felt from her gorgeous attire faded away.
"Fourth young lady, the second wife has ordered this servant to bring you to see her after dressing you up."
So it's finally coming?
Lu Yinxi curled her lips, showing no sign of fear. "Lead the way."
The Main Hall of the Inner Courtyard
Lady Wang was sitting in the main seat, putting on the airs of the mistress. She was waiting for Lu Yinxi, but unexpectedly, it was someone else who came.
"Mother, I just heard that His Highness, the King of Jing, is here. Is it true?"
The voice came before the figure appeared.
Before Lady Wang could react, a pink figure threw herself into her arms. Her sharp expression softened instantly, and there was only a slight rebuke in her words.
"So reckless. Where is your ladylike demeanor?"
"I don't care, I don't care. Please tell me quickly. Is His Highness, the King of Jing, really here?"
The pink - clothed girl, Lu Jinran, the third young lady of the Lu family, hugged Lady Wang's waist stubbornly, as if to say that she wouldn't let go if she wasn't told.
Lady Wang had no choice but to say, "Yes, he's here."
"Really?"
Lu Jinran stood up suddenly. Her eyes were full of admiration. Without waiting for Lady Wang to answer, she ran out like the wind, leaving only one sentence echoing in the room.
"I'll go and change into a nicer dress right now."
As soon as Lu Yinxi arrived at Rongjing Courtyard, she saw a pink figure running out of the inner room. Even though she dodged in time, she almost got knocked down.
After she stood still again, the servant who had gone in to announce her arrival came back.
"Fourth young lady, the madam invites you in."